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Genealogy/memories

Do you help other researchers with Family History?

(8 Posts)
Aely Mon 10-Nov-25 18:39:36

I feel really chuffed at the moment. I was looking at new DNA matches on Ancestry and spotted a fairly close match, a rare thing these days. The lady had virtually no tree but a " shared matches" search indicated who our Common Ancestors might have been. I was curious to know how she fitted in as I have "done" that branch pretty thoroughly, so I left a message suggesting she look at that particular family. She did.

She contacted me to thank me. She has not only identified her natural father but has also found two half sisters, one of whom would really like to meet her. It really made my day!

Septimia Mon 10-Nov-25 19:41:41

I have passed information to other people but they don't seem to have been very grateful! Perhaps the information wasn't to their liking.

Allira Mon 10-Nov-25 19:58:06

Yes, an American researcher and I helped each other.
She later wrote a book including the research I'd helped her with but didn't credit me!

Aely Fri 14-Nov-25 21:43:31

That sounds about right Allira!

Septimia, I usually consider myself lucky if I even get a reply. There are some exceptions though.

I was contacted by a lady whose Aunt had had a crush on an uncle of mine when they were both at University. The aunt was an American student who had had to return to America as a family member was very ill and heard shortly after she had left that my uncle had been killed in a flying accident. Her niece found a photo following her Aunts death and wondered if it was her beau. It wasn't, but the lady and I have become pen friends.

I have yet to hear back from a DNA match who comes from a very posh family with even posher forebears. I think maybe they didn't really want to know that one forebear not yet included in their tree (our common ancestor but through a different wife) was an illegitimate Scottish soldier...

It doesn't worry me. I find that ancestor fascinating. My father told me about him, his Gt Gt Grandfather, when I was a child.

Pittcity Fri 14-Nov-25 21:54:24

I've had 2 matches who are related to DH contact me. Neither knows who their biological father was and hoped I could help.
As neither supplied me with any information I couldn't. I often wonder what happened.

henetha Fri 14-Nov-25 21:59:53

When I did my DNA on Ancestry it
immediately found a first cousin in Vancouver whose hobby happens to be genealogy. She, and Ancestry, have found out so much about my background that it has been amazing.
Cousin and I are in regular touch. And she found another first cousin living right here in Devon.
Several more distant cousins still keep popping up from all round the world.
I pass them on to my Vancouver cousin who researches them. It's been amazing.

67notout Sat 15-Nov-25 09:21:01

I did my DNA with Ancestry a year ago as my grandmother had an unusual surname so I was looking for matches. Didn’t get any but I did get a match to find two half siblings I had no knowledge of. I have written three times to the match but had no reply. Disappointing to say the least. I try not to think about it/them. Both younger than my own children and I can’t help thinking that they must have been looking for an answer to do their DNA as they had a minuscule family tree. Oh well.

BlueBelle Sat 15-Nov-25 09:32:39

I rarely get an answer I think people are rude even just to say ‘sorry no longer interested’ I sent messages to second cousins found on ancestry and not an answer from any except one very very disappointing
I did most of my research before the internet by snail mail and used to get loads of stuff back even met up with one man from Canada who was over her, and another lady from Netherlands researching over here we stayed in touch for a few years and a third / fourth cousin I found in London came down and took me out for a meal
Since the internet nothing not even a blooming reply